Headliner Chris Isaak, right, donated an autographed guitar that was purchased in the live auction by Brandis and Steve Pelletier. Photo by Steve Peterson, Special to The Denver Post
Everybody loves Lulu, or so it would seem.
For the past eight years, the 9-year-old Brussells griffon has asked her humans, Fred and Jana Bartlit, to do something nice for the animals who might not live such a charmed life as she does. So the Bartlits toss Lulu’s Barkin’ BBQ, a big shindig that brings 500 people to their Castle Pines home for a Texas-style barbecue prepared by legendary chef Tom Perini of Buffalo Gap, Texas, and headline entertainment, this year by Grammy-nominated recording artist Chris Isaak. Previous years have featured Patti LaBelle, Cyndi Lauper and Dwight Yoakum.
The barbecue is a benefit for the Denver Dumb Friends League, of which Jana Bartlit is a lifetime trustee. As of Monday, the 2009 edition had raised $397,000 — with more yet to be counted. The Bartlits take care of every expense.
It’s not just for the love of their pooch that they make such a generous gesture. Fred, an attorney with Bartlit Beck Herman Palenchar & Scott, and Jana firmly believe that humans that abuse animals often go on to do evil things to people. “Studies prove that — and jails are filled with — people who’ve transgressed against animals and have gone on to maim or kill or abuse fellow human beings. More often than not the victims are little girls and boys,” he said. “So this barbecue is about much more than our love for furry little creatures.”
Folks arrive at the Bartlit party prepared to have fun, and that they do.
Even the live auction — a low point for so many other events, particularly now that people are keeping a careful eye on discretionary spending — is fun and, well, lively.
Led by John Clatworthy and Jim Odle, this year’s bidding included Pamela Hollister’s record-breaking $17,500 for the chance to have one of her pets pictured on the cover of the DDFL’s 2010 calendar. Hollister is the wife of Great-West Life president/ceo Mitchell Graye.Brandis Becky Pelletier and her husband, Steve, were high bidders ($4,500) on a black acoustic guitar that Chris Isaak, whose Maltese, Rodney, often tours with him, donated and personally inscribed for them.
But it wasn’t just luxury items that attracted bidder attention. Guests also paid to purchase medical equipment for the DDFL’s Buddy Center shelter in Douglas County; to subsidize senior citizen pet adoptions at the Buddy Center; and to buy tags, collars and leashes, microchip services and vaccines.Bob Rohde, who has been president of the Dumb Friends League since 1977, helped the hosts welcome such VIP guests as Cathy Bissell, founder of lostpets.com; Dr. Scott Campbell, chairman/ceo of Banfield Pet Hospitals; Neil Thompson, CEO of Hill’s Pet Nutrition; and Dr. Jed Rogers, president of the Colorado Veterinary Medical Association.
Bissell flew in from her home in Michigan to join her Denver friends Dana and Chris Rebhun, and Stacey Renker, whose husband, Greg, is a founding principal of Guthy-Renker Corp., the world’s largest direct response television company. They live in Rancho Mirage, Calif.
Patron-level supporters included Kathi Brock and Dr. Pete Sendroy; June Harper; Cathey and Dick Finlon; Howard and Susan Noble; Barbara Schmitt; Randy and Karen Woods; Cynthia and Tim Larkin; and Dick and Marcia Robinson.
We also spotted U.S. Rep. Mike Coffman and his wife, Cynthia; Dianne Vanderlip; Judy Fahrenkrog; Hanne Lichtenfels; Larry King; Jan and Miles Cortez; Rollie Jordan and Michael Dunahay; Bill and Yvonne McCallum; John and Martha Gart; Dr. Jil Hennessey; Jim and Cathy Marquis; Murphy and Carol Huston; and Mark and Pat “Gabby Gourmet” Miller.